THE ELOQUENT ENTREPRENEUR
SIP + SOCIAL SERIES
Meaningful conversations. Practical ideas. Real Impact.
October Gathering Featuring:
GILLIAN GISH | The Reconnection Academy
📅 Thursday, October 29th, 2026
🕓 4:30–7:30 PM
📍Linda Mackie Creative in Colwood, BC
🎟️ $10 | $5 from each guest goes towards a local charity
GILLIAN GISH | The Reconnection Academy
Gillian is a registered social worker and founder of
The Reconnection Academy, where she helps people feel clearer, more confident, and more connected in life, love, and leadership.
As entrepreneurs, we’re often balancing our businesses, relationships, community, and everything else life asks of us. We can end up burnt out and stretched thin, feeling unseen or unheard at work, at home, and even in our relationship with ourselves.
Gillian helps people look at which relationships leave them depleted and which help them feel restored, then identify their growth edge. From there, we bring self-help off the page and into interactive practice, using skills in trust, boundaries, communication, and repair.
It’s a chance to do something with what we’ve learned, beyond adding another book on leadership or attachment styles to the stack!
I'm excited for her to share her inspiring story...
HOW I STARTED MY THERAPY PRACTICE
in a Knitting Store and a Yoga Studio
When a military posting (spouse) brought Gillian Gish to Brighton, Ontario, followed shortly by her spouse’s deployment, she found herself knowing almost nobody and needing work while completing her master’s in social work. A walk down Main Street in Brighton sparked unexpected connections that helped her build her therapy practice and a sense of belonging.
Gillian shares how those early connections, lessons from difficult relationships, and over 15 years of supporting people through life transitions shaped her work and inspired The Reconnection Academy. The talk includes a short, interactive reflection on the relationships that deplete us, those that renew us, and how we can build more meaningful connection across life, love, and leadership.
Together, we’ll reflect on:
-
Recognizing relationships that deplete us versus those that renew us
-
Building meaningful connections and a stronger sense of belonging
-
Understanding how our relationships influence the way we live and lead
-
Creating space for healthier, more intentional relationships
WHAT IS SIP + SOCIAL?
Sip + Social was created to be an in-person extension of my podcast, Conversations with Everyday Changemakers and to bring together entrepreneurs, creatives, small-business owners and everyday changemakers who value thoughtful conversation, meaningful connection and practical support as they grow their work and explore the impact they want to make.
These small, intentional and recurring gatherings bring together guest speakers, practical insights, relaxed conversation and The Clarity Spotlight, where guests can share a current business or community-impact question and receive thoughtful feedback and fresh perspectives.
My hope is that everyone leaves feeling inspired, supported and a little more confident about their next steps, while building relationships that can lead to new opportunities, collaboration and positive change in our communities.
Every Sip + Social aims to be both motivating and functional.
At each event, you can look forward to:
-
A keynote or mini masterclass
-
Meaningful business conversations
-
The Clarity Spotlight
-
Engaging group discussion
-
Opportunities for collaboration and accountability
-
Wine, coffee and light snacks
-
Time for thoughtful connection
The Clarity Spotlight
A supportive mastermind-style conversation where three guests will have the opportunity to bring forward a current business, brand, visibility, marketing or community-impact question and receive focused feedback from a few people in the room.
Each gathering may vary, but the core objective stays the same: to foster an environment where entrepreneurs can learn, connect, grow, and feel supported in their efforts and in the impact they aspire to make.”
From Essence to Impact: Presence, Personal Brand + Purpose for Everyday Changemakers
Your presence is your brand.
In this recorded version of my inaugural Sip + Social talk, I explore how personal brand, visibility and purpose come together to shape how we show up in our businesses and the impact we want to make.
Drawing on my experience in photography, visual storytelling and working with entrepreneurs, I share practical insights and reflections to help you communicate who you are with greater clarity, confidence and presence.
Whether you're building a business, navigating a new chapter or exploring how you want to make a difference, I hope you'll find something here that inspires your next step.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Our November gathering will take place on:
Thursday, November 26, 2026
With + Eloquent Entrepreneur + Featured Guest Speaker
Maria Verdicchio | Infinite Roots + Infinite Spark
Roots and Sparks: Leading a Business That Doesn’t Run You
A conversation about what to hand to a machine, what to keep for yourself, and how nature, systems and grounded leadership can help us build businesses that support our lives instead of consuming them.
Details and registration will be coming soon.
YOUR HOST
LINDA MACKIE
Personal Brand, Commercial + Portrait Photographer
I’ve been bringing out the best in people in my editorial style portrait photography since 2004 and can’t imagine doing anything else.
As a photographer, image-maker, content creator, visual artist, wife and mom, animal and nature advocate, and promoter of making a difference in the world, I believe images tell inspiring stories and speak for us when we can’t be there in person.
It’s my mission to help you grow your business and share your unique message to the world through compelling and timeless imagery that connects with others at the heart level.